Bangladesh Ocean Satellite Station Ready

The infrastructure for Bangladesh’s first ocean satellite ground station has been completed, with trial operations expected to begin in June. The facility, constructed on the campus of the University of Chittagong, is now in its final preparatory phase, according to project officials.

The project commenced on 26 March last year, with an estimated cost of around 7 billion Bangladeshi taka. Of this, approximately 5 billion taka was provided as technical assistance by China’s Second Institute of Oceanography, while the remaining 2 billion taka was funded by the University of Chittagong.

The ground station has a data storage capacity of approximately 420 terabytes. Although construction has been completed, some operational tasks are still pending before full-scale trial operations can begin.

Project overview

The station is designed to establish connectivity with 11 satellites. At present, partial connections have been achieved with around seven of them. It is already receiving high-quality data from several Chinese satellites, while data from Japanese satellites and NASA systems is also being collected.

Work is ongoing to determine which satellites provide the most effective datasets for specific applications. Alongside this, specialised software for data analysis is currently under development to support research and operational use.

Officials expect that during a visit by a Chinese delegation in June, the station’s trial operations will be formally initiated.

Expected applications and impact

Once fully operational, the ground station is expected to provide rapid access to data on weather changes, cyclone forecasting, river erosion, deforestation, and other environmental indicators. Currently, Bangladesh relies significantly on the United States and India for cyclone and storm surge forecasting data.

With the new facility in operation, this dependency is expected to decrease. Data acquisition time, which currently ranges between 20 and 30 hours, is projected to be reduced to approximately 15 to 20 minutes. This improvement is expected to enhance cyclone tracking, coastal flood modelling, and climate-related analysis.

The system is also expected to contribute to identifying potential fishing zones in the Bay of Bengal, supporting sustainable fisheries management and contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 14 (life below water).

Project coordination and purpose

The project is being coordinated by Professor Mohammad Moslem Uddin of the Department of Oceanography at the University of Chittagong.

He stated: “The primary objective of this project is not commercial, but to expand research and education. Students and researchers will be able to submit research proposals under defined procedures and access required data, which will support academic publications.”

He further clarified that the facility functions solely as a downlink station. “It receives data but does not transmit it. Therefore, there is no cause for concern. China’s involvement should be viewed as part of technical assistance and international collaboration,” he added.

Institutional development and agreements

The initiative aligns with China’s Belt and Road Initiative. A memorandum of understanding between the University of Chittagong and China’s Second Institute of Oceanography was signed in December 2024. The construction work was inaugurated by former Vice-Chancellor Professor Muhammad Yahya Akhtar.

On 21 February this year, the university syndicate approved the station as an independent centre titled the “Satellite Ocean Observation and Data Innovation Centre,” with Professor Moslem Uddin appointed as its director.

The university also plans to sign agreements with various institutions to share operational costs, including expenses related to computing, internet, and electricity, in order to reduce the financial burden on the university.

Regarding progress, Vice-Chancellor Mohammad Al-Forkan stated that the project is nearly complete and may be tested between 7 and 9 June. He also indicated plans to further enhance the station’s operational effectiveness.